Padova Things to Do

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Basilica di Sant'Antonio di Padova is probably the number one tourist stop in Padova. Bus loads of pilgrims visiting relgious sites in Italy stop here, arriving from all over the world. The interior of the basilica is very beautiful, includes relics on view, a museum, book shop, and a garden.
Expect to spend at least two hours when visiting the famous site.
It is important to make the most of your visit to research a little about St. Anthony and why people come to this place of history/religion.
Hours are:

Without daylight saving: 6.20 - 19.00
With daylight saving: 6.20 - 19.45

Just outside the ancient old town is the Basilica del Carmine, a church most interesting for its history of destruction. Most churches in Italy have taken damage from earthquakes at some time in their past, but Basilica del Carmine has been set on fire by an Austrian airplane, demolished by Allied bombers during World War 2, and had its dome collapsed by massive snow build up. Its location, close to the train station, probably hasn't helped it much.

Porta Savonarola, part of the 15th century walls (Mura Cinquecentescha) was one of the main entrance to the city. The gate was designed by the architect Giovanni Maria Falconetto and finished in 1530. The same as twin gate Porta San Giovanni this gate was adorned by the Venetian lion, symbol of the Republic, but pulled down during rule of the Napoleon. The lion was replaced by an remake in the 19th century.

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The city walls or "mura comunali" were built at the start of the 13th century, thats why local people call them colloquialy "Mura Duecentesche". Their route was delimited by the two branches of the Bacchiglione, the Tronco Maestro and the Naviglio Interno, which came to be used as defensive ditches. The only gates to remain from this walls are the main north gate Porta Molino, and the main west gate Porta Altinate.

Padova put special attention on flowers, every year they renew the center flower beds with colorful accents and hang all over the place box of plants, this is how our street lamps get to be all dressed up.
They also organize a festival twice a year, in spring and fall, in the Ghetto area. There are stands selling plants, flower and seeds, a photo contest also take place and there is a contest for the best balcony decoration.

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When you are walking through northern Italy, or even parts of Greece you will see many Venetian symbols, one of them being the lion. Over doorways, and in full size statues the lion reminds the traveller of old that they are in Venetian territory.
Other things from the past... this water trough for horses, now used as a bird bath by pigeons. When you visit the art museums in Venice look to see if there are pigeons in the paintings of the piazzas, etc. You will see that they are not so evident, I believe that this is because pigeons were eaten more at that time.
Now they are to abundant and a nuisance, so much so that buildings, windows and walls have metal stickers to keep them away.

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Located near the Piazza del Signori is the famous Astronomical Clock that was built onto a building owned by the Carrarresi family. This clock is one of the oldest in Europe. Jacopo Dondi, an astronomer, designed the clock which shows the motion of the sun, moon phases, and planet motion as well as the time, days and months.

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This building was designed by Giuseppe Japelli and houses the cafe/coffee house in the center of Padova. Part of its history is that when the Austrians ruled Padova, the students and citizens of Padova (1848) held a violent protest here. In a short time the Austrians left Padova.
Caffe Pedrocchi has a tradition that undergraduate students do not go inside, as they believe that if they do, they will not graduate.
This caffe is frequented by the well to do of Padova.
Prices are higher as expected.